Happy Monday Dear Friends,
I must say, whenever MY JOHN visits he has so many wonderful compliments for ME. He has always allowed ME the opportunity to be ME…and to feel so good about myself. I love spending time with him!
Per my California update this morning from Dottie, I heard that it rained over one inch in just a few hours yesterday afternoon at Hollywood Park. For some parts of the country, this happens quite a bit…but in Los Angeles, this is truly a rarity. Thus, the last few races at Hollywood Park were canceled…simply for safety
reasons.
This morning, it is absolutely gorgeous there…the sun is shining brightly and it is crisp and lovely outside. It is the perfect November morning! Thus, the track should dry out quickly. All should be A-OK for the horses and Hollywood Park’s Autumn Festival of racing to take place there this weekend.
On other racing fronts, I do want to send a HIGH HOOF to Steve Asmussen on winning his 6,000th race this weekend. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment…and then to top it off by having SABERCAT win the Delta Jackpot adds to the FUN!
The Delta Princess went to NOW I KNOW who is now 5 for 5 in her racing career. This is very special! Congratulations to this lovely filly and all of her connections.
Then tonight, RAPID REDUX goes for #20 in a row at Mountaineer Park. His race runs at 9:55 Eastern….6:55 Pacific. All the best to him in this one mile event! My Lane’s End friends and I will be watching! His sire is Pleasantly Perfect…who is one of the stallions who stands here at our farm. Good Luck, Rapid Redux, in this quest!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Dear Z–you ARE too cute! Always. I have to admit to being sad, though, to see that great picture of YOU and Tasty leaving us.
@Terry Crow–it’ great to hear from you. SO many people have missed you.
@Margaret– I think everyoine here is for the horse’s welfare. We can keep an eye on him.
@All concerned about little Autumn–I left an update at the end of yesterday’s diary.
Arlene
Hi Zenny, Happy Thanksgiving to all!
LOL, Arlene
Shannon from Cool
YOUR JOHN is an example of how dads should treat their own children.
nancy
will be waching Rapid Redux going for number 20 I wish him well. He is in good co. no matter what with you Z and the wonderful Peppers Pride. Some records are made to be broken. And as always the photos of you with John and any one from your team are so very speical. We just love you Z. Saw Mikey this morning talking about you :) he still spekas so highly of you and still loves you very much as well. Again best of luck to RR at Montaineer this evening. Hugs and Kisses to you Z.And baby to be as well.
Past the Grandstand
I love how you congratulate others in the racing business, Z! How classy. I, and all your other fans, love you so much! Have a great Thanksgiving week.
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
Good Morning Z and all Z-sters. Love this picture- love all of them. Your Dottie is up lots earlier than me, but she is so right about waking up to a gorgeous sunny California day. The rain was good for us though.
@Barbara – just put my check for Autumn in the mail. The news so far is good and the young lady I talked to at Hope for Horses is so amazed at the response. I told her I felt she had HorseandMan blog and Zenyatta’s website to thank for a lot of the responses. I do hope she continues to do well after such an unimaginable horrific beginning. She is so cute.
I’m concerned about Rapid Redux with so many wins, but hopefully the owners and connections know the Zen folks are ever so watchful. I wish him a safe trip, more important than a win.
Ann Maree / Tennessee
Hi, Zenny, any pictures of you are always so welcome and I’m always glad to see current photos! Thanks so much to YOUR JOHN! Big hugs, sweet girl!!! Ann Maree
Brigid Matthews
Clicked on the link, saw the picture and felt myself smile. Great way to start the day. Thanks to Zenyatta’s family as always for their generous sharing of her.
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
Question: Why are the races run so late. That is so long past a normal horses bed-time. I don’t agree with this night racing program. It doesn’t seem to be part of a horses normal clock to be up that late. Am I way off base?
Lorri Hix
Aww Momma Z! You are too cute! Your John looks so happy to be there too! Glad that you two can spend some time together! xoxo
Sally B. (Wi)
@Linda M, I left my donation personally at Old Friends when I was visiting during BC week.
@Dawn Conrad, Enjoyed the Clairborne video immensely. I was there recently and touched Pulpit and Blame-fed them carrots & peppermints. Question for you. Penny Chenery owned Secretariat and was in financial trouble and sought investors in him. The Hancocks purchased an interest. Is this correct?
Deborah Richman, So. Cal.
This photo is TOO CUTE! PERFECT caption under the pic!! Z, thanks for starting my week with a giggle and a smile :)
@Terry Crow…Welcome back! You are missed by so many of us!
@Re: Dumplings Descending on the Carousel…I admit to having been there, and yes, I rode Zenny, and only had to shove one little girl off her to get on. Ok, so the little girl was tall and bore an uncanny resemblance to our JAG! Her iron grip was hard to dislodge, but the crowbar I brought helped. But my wish to ride the Queen finally came true, and the Tiger behind us never caught up! :)
In a more serious note, we all had such a wonderful time!! The carousel is an amazing, beautiful work of art with delightful details everywhere the eye rests. Thank you to the Moss’s for such a magnificent gift to children of ALL ages.
Debbie
hi Z! Again, another wonderful photo! YOU are TOO CUTE for sure!!! Yes, good luck to Rapid Redux tonight! Have a wonderful day gorgeous mama, love YOU xoxoxo
Cathleen
I love seeing YOU and YOUR JOHN together! Do you think Mario will get to visit you again soon? I love seeing you two together as well! Cathleen XOXOX
Kathy B. (SoCal, FL)
Zenny you are too cute! And I’m sure your foal will be too! I love the new merchandise on your website…..unfortunately I can’t buy everything I want right now. it looks like lots of your local fans recently visited your carousel horse (including me) and we all took some great photos…..what a thrill to imagine riding the real you! I’m sure the Zoo people thought we were all crazy!!!! Have a good week and HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!
SHERRY D. WV.
@JOHNNA IN TX. THE BROAD MARES THAT I REMEMBER, WERE BRED EVERY YEAR. YOU PICK OUT THE STALLION AND GO FOR A BREEDING. SOME MARES ARE BRED ON THEIR FOAL HEAT CYCLE, ABOUT NINE DAYS AFTER THE FOAL IS BORN, FOALED, IS THE TERM USED FOR HORSES. HERE IN THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF W. WE HAVE BEEN RAINED ON SEVERAL DAYS EACH WEEK. I REALLY WANT SUNNY DAYS AGAIN. WELCOME BACK DEAR TERRY CROW. LOVE TO ALL SHERRY D.
Celeste
Awww, that photo of you and John really is too cute!! In every photo of the two together you can just see the love being shared between them. My heart is so happy to see this so I really do appreciate your generosity in sharing this with us.
Those dumplings with the photos on the carousel on facebook – how exciting and fun! Thank you for sharing your good times!
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
@ Dawn: Where might I view the Claiborne video? I’ve searched and guess I’m missing it. Which diary number ? Thanks to anyone happening on this post and giving me directions!
Patricia
Shannon, how right you are!!
@ Joanna from Texas– it’s a very individual thing… some mares are barren or physically old at age 18 to 20… others can go on for several more years, if health and condition allow.
Same with stallions… wasn’t it Mr. Prospector who sired his last foals at nearly 30? My present stallion is now 27, nature has retired him, but he still loves his girls who are just over the fence, and he is a happy, active boy.
One of my mares was sired by a stallion when he was 30, his last foal, and he went on to age 38. She herself had her last foal at age 21 and would have raised another if I’d bred her, but she was too closely related to the 3 stallions I had in those days. She loved the babies and was an excellent “auntie” to them, as was Princess Rooney when her producing days were done.
I have a 31 year old mare who still comes in season and had her last foal at age 24; however she is an Arabian and they DO do everything a bit later and longer…
No, it is NOT cruel to keep a mare producing into her 20s, if she can physically do it. The old mares are treasures, whether they foal or not, and some of them are happiest if they can just keep on making babies… I know of several Arabian mares who foaled at age 29 and 30 but that’s a rarity, most aren’t asked after age 25 or so. But I recently lost a 25 year old who was (until the day she fell, breaking her back) strong and lively and ready for anything… that’s young in this breed.
Again, it’s very much an individual thing… if the mare is healthy and cycling regularly and her repro tract is in good shape, there’s really no reason NOT to breed her if other conditions are right too. And as to losing them in foaling, that can happen to mares at any age, and for a variety of reasons… sometimes it just happens. I lost a 5 year old gelding to a shattered cannon when he was playing in his field… no way to predict or prevent, just a bad step… his full sister is now 18 and greets me every time she sees me with a nicker and a nuzzle. Priceless.
@ Terry Crow– so glad you’re back, keep the jokes coming— and yes, with time comes healing.
*****
@ all— About Rapid Redux— I know little about this horse, but he has been running in “starter allowance” conditions which will run out at the end of this calendar year. From what I have seen and heard about him, he has done well on this regime, and it may be that instead of having full works he is racing. Some horses thrive on work, some have enough condition and energy, and some are just plain tough. I suspect he has some or all of these, perhaps in abundance, and he appears also to have a trainer who knows how to place him— and he is running against not dreadfully strong competition— which about guarantees him a win. Personally I am rooting for him, as a blue-collar “working” horse… it takes NOTHING from Zenyatta who raced against the top horses in the world and defeated all but one. And won that one in everyone’s heart. Hers is the record that truly does count, as time has proven. Blame is a top class horse and will sire many good foals, some of which may run against Zenyatta’s babies someday. What an intriguing prospect.
Have a great Thanksgiving week, everyone, here’s to improved health and lots of happy Zen and horse chat for all.
THANK YOU DOTTIE AND JOHN and the Mosses for giving us this contact and format. What fun and what a great bunch of fine folks.
Joanne Mott
I want to say happy thanksgiving to Queen Z. And to the people who are complaining about RR shame on you to assume RRs team do not know what they are doing, they know what RRs made of and know how he can withstand the rigors, until you know all of the details and what takes place between RR and his team, do not make assumptions it just makes you folks look like small people with small minds.
Have a great weekend Zs team!
Holly ZEMBA
Rapid Redux has a good jockey tonight to ride to victory – Deshawn Parker
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Margaret, RR is not being over-raced. If he were not in good shape, he would not be winning. His owners have every incentive to keep him happy and healthy, and meanwhile, RR is able to pay his expenses. The horses that are NOT racing and/or are NOT winning are the ones at risk. We focus so much attention to stakes horses like Zenyatta and Uncle Mo, who race once in a blue moon, that we forget that most racehorses race a couple of times a month. Frequent racing won’t hurt a horse that is fit and sound. (Racing an unsound horse is another matter entirely, of course.) Before the advent of drugs, even stakes horses raced far more often than they do now. Secretariat raced 10 times as a two-year-old, starting in July. Whirlaway had 60 starts in a 3-year career. Our buddy Gulch at Old Friends won the 1987 Metropolitan Handicap, which he ran in between the Preakness and the Belmont.
–
@Joanna from TX, my understanding is that a mare is usually bred every year. Sometimes she will be given time off for a calendar adjustment, so that her next foal will be born in a desired timeframe (VERY important for TBs). Mares’ bodies are pretty good about giving themselves a break if necessary. Either the mare won’t get pregnant or she will abort.
–
@Delrene, races are run late because that’s when the spectators and bettors are available. It’s like nighttime baseball.
Kim
I join you in wishing Rapid Redux a safe and successful trip tonight on the road to #20. Anyone who can do anything 20 consecutive times successfully deserves all the acclimation and honor.
Love you, big mare, and don’t eat too much turkey Thursday.
Kim
Allen
Queen Z you look gorgeous! I know the time you get to spend with John is so special. I hope you have a great holiday week, and may God Bless You and all of Team Z.
@ Cathleen, I agree, when will Mario get to come see Zenyatta. The pictures of Zenyatta and Mario are the best.
@ Ann Maree/Tennessee, !!GO VOLS!!
KikiSim GA/VA
Zee-
The fact that I’m on the bus to go home from school
Right now, and the fact I do it every day and annoy my
“Bus Mate” (not intentionally, of course!) tells me something.
I’m obsessed with everything YOU and YOUR TEAM!
that’s all that consists on my “Christmas list” haha(:
Have a good afternoon Queen Z and Mini Z/B(:
signofthetimes
@Joanna and others with RR comments
Citation won 19 races in one year so this is not
New. His purses were not donated to charity.
He is built very sturdy and loves to run.
GOOD LUCK. RR !!!!
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
A lovely photo Zenny, it looks as if you’re asking John to give you a scratch on the special place behind your ear. You must have been so happy to have your family spending time with you.
@ Terry C – Glad to see your special joke and hope to see you back each day soon.
KikiSim GA/VA
And I’m braving wifi too :p haha LOAD SCREEN LOAD!
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Zenny, As always the sight of you brings joy.
@ Terry C. – Welcome back!
@ Patricia – Thank you for all the information on broodmares. It answered many questions I have had concerning age.
PEACE & LOVE
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny
So love this photo of you and YOUR JOHN.
You are blushing a bit. Such a lovely horse with
Great Connections. Thanks for keeping this site
With such great posts and photos
XXXXOOOO